Article holders



C. D. MILLER ARTICLE HOLDERS Filed Oct. 7,

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CHARLIE D. MILLER.

HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,262,618 ARTICLE HOLDERS Charlie D. Miller, 603 Dakin St., Syracuse, N.Y. Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,243 1 Claim. (Cl. 224-45) This invention relates broadly to supports or holders for articles. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for holding or supporting a container when it is desired to move the container from a standing position to a position where it can be emptied. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a support or holder for use with relatively large containers or cartons containing milk.

For purposes of economy, there has been widespread use of containers of milk sold by commercial establishments for household consumption in which the container will hold a half a gallon or two quarts ofmilk. The container is usually formed of cardboard and is designed so as to utilize as small a space as possible in a storage unit, such as a refrigerator. One of the disadvantages inherent in the use of the container is the difficulty of handling it for the purpose of pouring milk therefrom.

The container normally is composed of a carton having four sides, each about four inches in length, and when filled with two quarts of milk weighs about five pounds. It is diflicult for children to grap the container with one hand in view of the length of the side together with the weight of the container and its contents. In order that the container with the milk may be elevated and tilted for the purpose of pouring the milk, certain constructions involving cradles and the like have been suggested.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved holder for a container of the kind described 'that may be easily assembled over the exterior of the carton, and which may be fabricated from inexpensive materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder of the kind described wherein handles are provided for the purpose of elevating and tilting the container while at the same time transmit forces sufiicient to resist relative movement between the holder and the container during use of the container.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent upon a consideration of the ensuing specification and drawing in which there is shown a perspective view of an article holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention as it applies to a milk container illustrated in dottedlines.

Referring more particularly to the drawing for an illustration of a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is shown an article holder A constructed in accordance with the invention and which is formed of resilient wire material into a configuration which is continuous throughout its extent. The holder A may be formed in a number of ways. For example, a length of gauge #11 to gauge #14 wire having a thickness on the order of .064".091" may be bent to the configuration shown, having the terminal ends thereof connected as by welding or other convenient means to form the continuous configuration shown. It has been discovered that wire having a thickness less than .064" does not provide sufficient strength for the purpose of this invention. On the other hand, wire having a thickness in excess of .091" possesses strength in excess of that required.

The article holder includes an upper loop portion 10 together with a spaced lower loop portion 12. The upper loop portion 10 consists of sides 14, 16 and 18 coextensive with the respective sides of the container to which the holder is to be applied. In addition, relatively short side members 20 and 22 are likewise formed to engage the fourth side of the container to a limited 3,262,618 Patented July 26, 1966 'ice extent, as shown in the drawing. It will be evident that sides 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 are coplanar.

In addition to the upper. loop structure described, there is a second or lower loop structure 12 comprising sides 34, 36 and 38, corresponding to sides 14, 16 and 18. In addition, portions 40 and 42, corresponding to 20 and 22, engage the fourth side of the carton or container to a limited extent, as shown in the drawing.

Integrally connecting the upper and lower loops are handles 44 and 46. The handles include generally vertically extending sections and 60, upper and lower inclined sections 52 and 54 (note handle 44), and upper and lower inclined sections 62 and 64 (note handle 46). As will be evident from consideration of the drawing, the handles in each instance are bent outwardly from a plane containing sides 20, 22, 40 and 42.

Considering the use of the holder, when the upper and lower loop portions 10 and 12 are formed, they are of a dimension which permits the article holder to be introduced over the carton to be supported in frictional engagement with the outside surfaces thereof. Preferably, the dimensions are such that the holder can be slidably moved along the surface of the carton by hand and maintained in its position at any given point, the carton placing the resilient Wire forming loops 10 and 12 in a slightly stressed condition. When it is desired to use the carton or container, the user grasps the handles 50 and 60. As the handles move toward one another under the influence of the movement of the users hand, the loops 10 and 12 contract and cause the holder to bind tightly about the exterior surface of the container or carton through the upper and lower loop portions. The assembly is then elevated or tilted for the purpose of dispensing the milk from the carton without fear of separation of the holder and the carton. After the milk has been poured, it is returned to its resting position on a table or like support and the person using the carton releases his grip on the handles 50 and 60, permitting them to move outwardly relative to one another a predetermined distance sufiicient to permit the loops to revert to their original configuration in which they are frictionally maintained in engagement with the cartons at the preselected position on the carton surface.

One of the important features of the invention is the manner in which the handle portions are bent outwardly from the side of the carton. to a distance permitting the person who is using the carton to slide his fingers between the handle sections 50, and the side of the carton. With this arrangement, a minimum of additional space is needed in a refrigerator or cold storage unit into which the carton is placed after a portion of the milk only has been used.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may 'be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A holder for supporting a container having a constant cross section throughout substantially the entire height thereof, comprising a resilient wire like member including an upper loop portion for engaging the sides of the container, a lower loop portion for engaging the side of the container at a location spaced from the region of engagement between the upper loop portion and the sides of the container, and a pair of vertically disposed handles connecting the upper and lower loop portions, the said loop portions are of a size such that upon slidable introduction of the holder over the container the loop portions are slightly stressed to maintain the holder against vertical movement relative to the surface of the container, the upper and lower loop portions including three sides coextensive with and engaging the surface of the Preferably, they are bent container and a fourth side consisting of two short sections engaging relatively short portions of the side of the container in engagement therewith, each upper and lower short section terminating in one of said vertically disposed handles, the pair of handles being normally horizontally spaced from each other whereby the gripping of both handles by the hand applies a gripping force on the container through the loops, said loops engaging the constant cross sectional area of the container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,219 7/1936 Muschinske. 2,730,278 1/1956 Sherlowsky. 2,755,977 7/1955 Malcolm.

HUGO o. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

A. GRANT, Assistant Examiner 

